How about in your car? Get in your car, put the phone in its cradle (with inductive charger), and drive. You can ask your phone for the nearest steakhouse, and listen to an mp3 fille, sent to your car stereo over Bluetooth.

Having to plug and unplug in the micro-USB charger every time you get in/out of the car gets very annoying after a while so most people wouldn't bother most of the time.

I don't think people will travel with their charging pad, but they will still travel with their charger, so unless the airport provides the infrastructure (as in pads), I don't see your argument. I see charging pads as mainly a home or work convenience. The difference in cost between an outlet with an extension cord and a pad (that still needs an outlet) is huge. Coupled with the limited number of devices a single pad can support, I'm not sure many places will spend that capital. Except Starbucks ...

I certainly understand some people would feel that way, DrQuine. But then, when I'd have to compete for precious power outlets at the airport (and there aren't a lot of them around), I do long for wireless charging pad.

This sounds like "much ado about nothing". If I'm near enough to the charging pad to charge my phone, I might as well plug in my USB cord and recharge at the end of my meter long leash (power cord). It gives me more flexibiloity than trying to talk on the phone or surf the web while the phone rests on the charging plate. As a frequent traveler, I see the cluster of people on their phones at the power outlets, I don't see a benefit of having to get even closer to use the recharging plate.